Delaney Lester, Stephanie Loop, Amber Perkins, and Brenda Trejo, current students in the Department of Radiologic Sciences, placed first in a competition with their essay titled “Alternative Clavicle Projections to Reduce Breast Tissue Exposure” at the annual Association of Collegiate Educators in Radiologic Sciences in Las Vegas in February.
The Association of Collegiate Educators in Radiologic Sciences holds a conference annually for both faculty and students from institutions from all over the country, providing attendees with learning, networking, and professional discussion opportunities. Students participated in three contests – the student quiz bowl, scientific poster presentation, and the Royal Domino student essay competition.
The students Lester, Loop, Perkins, and Trejo studied the effects of an alternative position for x-raying patients during procedures near the collarbone. The goal was to determine if this position reduced radiation exposure to the breast tissue. To determine this, 40 separate x-rays were taken in a controlled lab, and were then analyzed to measure the amount of exposure from the new and traditional positions. The study concluded that changing the position where the tests were performed had a very significant decrease in radiation exposure to the breast tissue, and showed that in order to avoid unnecessary exposure, the new position could be a better standard.
Health and science are always trying to improve, and patient safety is a top priority. This study and the results from it show a way to improve this test, and possibly similar ones, in order to make it safer for the patient. It is crucial for medical procedures to be as safe and comfortable as possible to reduce any unnecessary risks or side effects, and to also make the procedure worry free for the patient.